Docking station with undercarriage cleaning functionality for floor cleaning machine

ABSTRACT

A floor cleaning system may include a docking station to which an autonomous floor cleaning machine can dock between cleaning operations. The docking station can provide power to the autonomous floor cleaning machine to recharge the batteries of the machine when not in use. The docking station may also supply fresh cleaning fluid to the floor cleaning machine and remove collected waste from the machine. In practice, the floor cleaning machine may itself become dirty over repeated use, such as when cleaning greasy floor surfaces. Accordingly, the docking station may include flushing orifices to clean the floor cleaning machine itself, such as with a degreasing composition.

RELATED MATTERS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/993,031, filed Mar. 22, 2020, the contents of whichare incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to cleaning systems and, more particularly, todocking stations for cleaning machines.

BACKGROUND

Cleaning machines are used extensively for cleaning flooring surfacessuch as tile, stone, brick, wood, concrete, carpets and other commonsurfaces. Maintaining the cleanliness of these surfaces, especially inhigh volume areas in commercial, industrial, institutional and publicbuildings is an ongoing and time-consuming process. Automated robots androbotic devices are becoming more prevalent today to perform these typesof continuous, time-consuming takes.

For example, autonomous floor cleaning devices can be used toautomatically clean a defined floor surface without requiring operatorintervention. The autonomous floor cleaning device can include anon-board power unit that is recharged at a base or docking station. Thefloor cleaning device can periodically dock at the docking station, forexample, when on-board power is running low and/or between scheduledcleaning operations. As a result, the autonomous floor cleaning devicemay clean a floor surface many times over a period of days, weeks, oreven months with limited or no human operator intervention. In practice,the quality of cleaning provided by the autonomous floor cleaning devicemay degrade if the device itself requires service, which may not bedetected by a human operator during an extended period of autonomousoperation.

SUMMARY

In general, this disclosure is directed to a floor cleaning system thatincludes a docking station to which a floor cleaning machine, such as anautonomous floor cleaning machine, can dock between cleaning operations.The docking station may provide power to the autonomous floor cleaningmachine via a wired and/or wireless connection to recharge batteriescarried by the machine. In addition, in some implementations, thedocking station may supply fresh cleaning fluid to the floor cleaningmachine and/or remove collected waste from the machine while docked atthe docking station.

In practice, it has been observed that some cleaning environments resultin the floor cleaning machine itself becoming dirty and fouled. Forexample, the floor cleaning machine may include a cleaning head, such asa rotating scrubber head and/or sweeping head, that contacts the floorsurface being cleaning. The cleaning head can agitate the floor surfaceto help lift and remove soil from the floor surface during cleaningoperation. The removed soil may be captured in a waste collectionreservoir of the floor cleaning machine. However, a portion of the soilmay adhere to the cleaning head itself (e.g., bristles and/or pads ofthe cleaning head). This soil can build-up on the cleaning head,reducing the cleaning effectiveness of the floor cleaning machine.

For example, in restaurants and other commercial environments, a floorcleaning machine may be used to clean a floor surface that has higholefinic content (e.g., grease). These organic soils may release fromthe floor surface being cleaned in response to the souring action of thecleaning head but then become retained on the cleaning head itself.Overtime, a thick, oily/waxy residue may buildup on the surface of thecleaning head, undermining the cleaning effectiveness of the floorcleaning machine.

In accordance with some examples of the present disclosure, the dockingstation for the floor cleaning machine can clean the floor cleaningdevice itself while docked at the docking station. For example, thedocking station may include a platform over which the floor cleaningmachine is at least partially positioned, when docked at the dockingstation. The docking station can also include one or more flushingorifices arranged to deliver a device cleaning fluid to the underside ofthe floor cleaning machine, such as one or more nozzles positioned todeliver a cleaning liquid to the cleaning head of the floor cleaningmachine. The one or more nozzles may be stationary and/or may moverelative to the floor cleaning machine while cleaning the machine. Insome implementations, the one or more nozzles can clean an exteriorsurface (e.g., housing) of the floor cleaning machine in addition tocleaning an underside of the device. The docking station may or may notalso have rotating and/or moving brushes to clean the cleaning head ofthe floor cleaning machine, an underside of the machine, and/or anexterior surface of the machine.

In any case, the docking station may be implemented to clean at leastthe cleaning head of the floor cleaning machine with a device cleaningfluid. The device cleaning fluid used to clean the floor cleaningmachine may be the same cleaning fluid supplied for cleaning the floorsurface. Alternatively, a device cleaning fluid having a differentcomposition than that supplied for cleaning the floor surface. Forexample, where the cleaning head of the floor cleaning machine isexpected to clean grease or other organic build-up, a degreasingcomposition may be used to clean and degrease the cleaning head whiledocked to the docking station.

In one example, a floor cleaning system is described that includes afloor cleaning machine and a docking station. The floor cleaning machineincludes at least one drive wheel operable to drive the floor cleaningmachine across a floor surface to be cleaned, a cleaning head beingconfigured to clean the floor surface as the floor cleaning machine isdriven across the floor surface by the at least one drive wheel, acleaning fluid reservoir, and a waste fluid reservoir. The dockingstation is configured to interface with and allow the floor cleaningmachine to dock therewith. The docking station includes a platformcomprising a drain and at least one flushing orifice. The platform isarranged to receive the floor cleaning machine in a position in which atleast a portion of an underside of the floor cleaning machine ispositioned over the platform. The flushing orifice is arranged todeliver a device cleaning fluid to at least the cleaning head of thefloor cleaning device.

The details of one or more examples are set forth in the accompanyingdrawings and the description below. Other features, objects, andadvantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and fromthe claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an example floor cleaning system thatincludes a floor cleaning machine and a docking station.

FIG. 2 is a top view of an example manifold that may be used with theexample docking station of FIG. 1 to deliver device cleaning fluid to anunderside of a floor cleaning machine.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of another example configuration of an examplefloor cleaning system that includes a floor cleaning machine and adocking station.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure generally relates to docking stations for floor cleaningmachines and related systems and techniques. In some examples, a dockingstation according to the disclosure includes one or more mechanicaland/or electrical and/or fluid connections configured to interface withcorresponding features and/or connections on a floor cleaning machine tobe docked at the docking station. This can allow the floor cleaningmachine to be serviced and supplied for continued operation.

For example, the docking station may include one or more mechanicalinterface features that interface with one or more correspondingfeatures on the floor cleaning machine, when the floor cleaning machineis docked at the docking station. As another example, the dockingstation may include one or more electrical connection features thatelectrically connect with one or more corresponding electricalconnection features on the floor cleaning machine, when the floorcleaning machine is docked at the docking station. This can allowbatteries on the floor cleaning machine to be recharged upon dockingand/or data communication to and/or from the floor cleaning machine. Asstill a further example, the docking station may include one or morefluid connection features that interface with corresponding fluidconnection features on the floor cleaning machine, when the floorcleaning machine is docked at the docking station. For example, thedocking station may include a fluid connection for establishing fluidcommunication with a cleaning fluid reservoir on the floor cleaningmachine, allowing the cleaning fluid reservoir to be refilled upondocking. Additionally or alternatively, the docking station may includea fluid connection for establishing fluid communication with a wastefluid reservoir on the floor cleaning machine, allowing the waste fluidreservoir to be emptied upon docking.

In some implementations, the docking station is configured to clean thefloor cleaning machine, when the floor cleaning machine is docked at thedocking station. For example, the docking station may be configured toclean an underside of the floor cleaning machine and/or surfaces of themachine that interface with the floor surface being cleaned, when thefloor cleaning machine is docked at the docking station. For example,the docking station may include one or more flushing nozzles that spaydevice cleaning fluid against an underside of the floor cleaning machineand/or cleaning brushes/pads of the machine. Additionally oralternatively, the docking station may be configured to clean anexterior surface of the floor cleaning machine, such as a housing of themachine that encloses the operational components of the machine.

By configuring the docking station to clean the floor cleaning machine,the docking station can help ensure that the floor cleaning machineprovides effective floor surface cleaning during subsequent use. Forexample, the docking station can remove build-up soil on the cleaninghead of the machine and/or prevent soil released from a floor surfaceduring cleaning from building on the cleaning head. This can help ensurethat the floor cleaning machine continues to achieve desired floorcleaning performance, which may otherwise deteriorate if the cleaninghead of the floor cleaning machine itself becomes fouled.

While a docking station according to the disclosure can be beneficialfor any types of floor cleaning machines and any types of operatingenvironments, in some implementations, the docking station is used withan autonomous floor cleaning machine. An autonomous floor cleaningmachine may be one operable to automatically clean a floor surfacewithout requiring operator intervention. In other words, an operatorneed not stand-on, ride-on, push, or otherwise physically manipulate thefloor cleaning device to cause the floor cleaning machine to perform afloor surface cleaning operation. Because the floor cleaning machine mayclean a floor surface many times over a period of days, weeks, or evenmonths with limited or no human operator intervention, a human operatormay not detect when the floor cleaning machine itself becomes fouledand/or when the floor cleaning machine is not providing desired floorcleaning effectiveness. In these applications, providing a dockingstation that can clean the autonomous floor cleaning machine to corrector avoid issues associated with the floor cleaning machine becomingfouled may be beneficial.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an example floor cleaning system 10 thatincludes a floor cleaning machine 12 and a docking station 14. Floorcleaning machine 12 is operable to move about a floor surface and cleanthe floor surface during movement. When requiring replenishment and/orfloor cleaning is not needed, floor cleaning machine 12 may navigate todocking station 14 and dock at the docking station. In differentconfigurations, floor cleaning machine 12 can mechanically and/orelectrically and/or fluidly couple to docking station 14 to establish adocked position of the floor cleaning machine relative to the dockingstation.

In general, docking station 14 may be designed to work with a floorcleaning machine having any desired configuration and functionalcharacteristics. Floor cleaning machine 12 may carry one or morecleaning heads capable of performing sweeping, scrubbing, burnishing,and/or other cleaning functionality. Sweeping generally refers to a dryoperation involving removing dust and larger particles from a floorsurface such as by dust mopping, brushing, vacuuming or blowing or thelike so that loose soil particles and other materials are not presentduring scrubbing or burnishing operations where their presence couldinhibit the cleaning or burnishing or cause a discoloration of thecoating or other physical damage to the floor surface during the moreaggressive scrubbing and burnishing operations. By contrast, scrubbinggenerally refers to a wet operation involving the application of waterand/or cleaning fluid to a floor surface together with scrubbing thefloor surface with mops, rotating pads or brushes or other cleaningtools. Burnishing is a process of relatively high-speed polishing of afloor surface, e.g., after scrubbing to provide a glossy, reflectivesurface.

In the example of FIG. 1 , floor cleaning machine 12 is illustrated ashaving at least one drive wheel 16 operable to drive the floor cleaningmachine across a floor surface to be cleaned and one or more cleaningheads 18 carried by the floor cleaning machine. Cleaning head 18 isconfigured to clean the floor surface as the floor cleaning device isdriven across the floor surface by the at least one drive wheel. In someexamples, floor cleaning machine 12 includes a cleaning fluid reservoir20 that can supply cleaning fluid to a floor surface being cleanedand/or cleaning head 18 via a fluid delivery system 22 (e.g., piping,valve(s), spray nozzle(s)). Floor cleaning machine can also include awaste fluid reservoir 24 that recovers cleaning fluid dispensed on thefloor surface (e.g., after scrubbing), other liquid present on thefloor, and soil released from the floor surface. Floor cleaning machine12 can have a fluid recovery system 26 (e.g., vacuum suction, squeeze,piping, valve(s)) for collecting fluid from the floor surface andconveying the collected fluid from the floor surface to waste fluidreservoir 24.

As briefly discussed above, the drive system of floor cleaning machine12 can include one or more drive wheels 16 for driving the machineacross a surface to be cleaned. The drive wheels can be operated by acommon drive motor or individual drive motors coupled by a transmission,which may include a gear train assembly or another suitabletransmission. In an autonomous configuration, the drive system canreceive inputs from a controller for driving the machine across a floor,e.g., based on inputs from a navigation/mapping system and/or sensors.The drive wheels 16 can be driven in a forward or reverse direction inorder to move the unit forwardly or rearwardly. Furthermore, the drivewheels can be operated simultaneously or individually in order to turnthe unit in a desired direction.

Cleaning head 18 may include one or more brushes positions to contactthe floor surface being cleaned during movement of floor cleaningmachine 12. For example, cleaning head 18 may be implemented using twocounter-rotating brushes, one or both of which is driven by a motor. Thebrushes may be positioned relative to one another such that the bristlesof the brushes overlap. As another example, cleaning head 18 may includea brush which has an axis of rotation substantially parallel to thefloor and substantially perpendicular to an axis running from the frontto the rear of the cleaner. As still a further example, cleaning head 18may include a vacuum orifice for suctioning debris from the floorsurface being cleaned.

The number, type, and configuration of cleaning heads 18 on floorcleaning machine 12 (e.g., number, selection, and arrangement ofbristles) may vary depending on the floor surface intended to be cleanedand/or types of soils expected to be cleaned on the floor surface.Example floor surfaces that may be cleaned using floor cleaning machine12 include, but are not limited to, concrete, tile, carpet, wood,plastic, stone, vinyl, and the like.

In different examples, floor cleaning machine 12 can be powered by anon-board power source, such as batteries or an internal combustionengine, or powered through an electrical cord. Floor cleaning machine 12may be a ride-on machine that includes a seat and controls for anoperator. Alternatively, floor cleaning machine may be designed for useby an operator that walks behind the machine, or the machine may beconfigured to be towed behind a vehicle.

In still other examples, floor cleaning machine 12 may be implemented asan autonomous floor cleaning device operable without human control. Whenso configured, floor cleaning machine 12 may include one or morecontrollers controlling the overall operation of the machine. Thecontroller may be configured (e.g., appropriately designed andprogrammed) to govern over various components of the machine, includingto control the drive wheel 16, cleaning head 18, cleaning fluiddistribution, and waste fluid recovery. For example, the controller mayprovide commands to operate the drive wheels to maneuver the machine ina desired direction and provide commands to initiate or cease operationof the cleaning head 18, cleaning fluid distribution, and/or waste fluidrecovery.

In some examples, the controller is designed to implement a suitablebehavior-based-robotics scheme to issue commands that cause the machineto navigate and clean a floor surface in an autonomous fashion. Thecontroller as well as other components of the machine may be powered bya battery carried by the floor cleaning machine. For example, thecontroller may implement a behavior-based-robotics scheme based onfeedback received from a plurality of sensors distributed about thefloor cleaning machine and communicatively coupled to the controller.For instance, the floor cleaning machine may include an array ofproximity sensors installed along the periphery of the machine. Theproximity sensors may generate a signal responsive to the presence ofpotential obstacles that may appear in front of or beside the machine.In different examples, floor cleaning machine 12 may travel in a randomor defined path during a floor cleaning operation. In someimplementations, floor cleaning machine 12 maps an operating environmentduring a cleaning run, keeping track of traversed areas and untraversedareas and stores a position on the map at which the controller instructsthe machine to return to docking station 14. In some implementations,floor cleaning machine 12 includes at least one vision-based sensor,such as a camera having a field of view, for guiding autonomousmovement.

The various components of floor cleaning machine 12 can be carried by achassis 28, such a base frame to which the components of the machine aredirectly or indirectly connected. Chassis 28 may define an underside 30facing a floor surface to be cleaned, with the one or more cleaningheads 18 being positioned on and/or extending from the underside of thechassis. An external housing 32 formed of one or more pieces may coverthe various internal components floor cleaning machine 12.

Independent of the specific configuration of floor cleaning machine 12,the machine may navigate to and dock at docking station 14. When floorcleaning machine 12 is an autonomous machine, the machine may use avariety of different navigation techniques to find and dock at dockingstation 14 (e.g., radio signals, dead reckoning, ultrasonic beams,infrared beams coupled with radio signals, etc.).

Docking station 14 may include a platform 40 that is defined by orpositioned over a floor surface, allowing floor cleaning machine 12 totravel to a location where underside 30 is at least partially positionedover the platform. For example, in different implementations, anentirety of floor cleaning machine 12 or a lesser portion thereof may bepositioned over platform 40, when the machine is docked at dockingstation 14. For example, platform 40 may be configured (e.g., sizedand/or shaped) relative to floor cleaning machine 12 such that at leastcleaning head 18 carried by the machine can be position over theplatform. Floor cleaning machine 12 may be positioned over platform 40such that an axis extending vertically upwardly from platform 40intersects the floor cleaning machine.

Platform 40 may include one or more drains 42 that allow liquid flowingdownwardly from floor cleaning machine 12 and landing on platform 40 toexit the platform. Platform 40 may or may not be sloped toward drain 42to facilitate efficient drainage from the platform. In differentimplementations, platform 40 may be a dedicated structure or surfaceassociated with docking station 14 or may be a multi-purpose floorsurface area, such as a mop or bucket filling station with sidewallsextending upwardly from the platform. In this regard, it should beappreciated that platform 40 need not be elevated above a surroundingfloor surface to function as a platform as described herein.

Although drain 42 is illustrated in FIG. 1 as being positioned belowplatform 40 to allow liquid and debris sprayed and/or falling off floorcleaning machine 12 during the cleaning process to flow out of the drainunder the force of gravity, drain need not be positioned in suchlocation. For example, platform 40 may be a solid surface that slopes toa collection location. A suction tubing line may draw the collectedliquid from the collection location and discharge it to a separatelylocated drain. Additionally or alternatively, docking station 14 may beconfigured to discharge to a drain of a waste sink, e.g., such as awaste sink in a back-of-house food service location. Other drainarrangements are possible.

In practice, comparatively large-sized debris may be captured incleaning head 18 of floor cleaning machine 12 during floor cleaningoperations. Examples of such debris includes food waste (e.g., Frenchfries, hamburger pieces, pickles, lettuce), packaging waste (e.g.,condiment packets, straw wrappers), and other ground refuse (e.g.,leaves, napkins). These materials may become entrained in cleaning head18 (e.g., captured between the bristles of a brush) during cleaning. Thesolid debris may be released from the cleaning head as the cleaning headis flushed with device cleaning liquid, e.g., causing the wetted debristo collect on platform 40 and/or flow toward drain 42. This may have atendency to plug drain 42.

In such situations, docking station 14 may include a size reducing unit43 positioned to receive material entering drain 42 of the platform andshear the material to reduce a size of the material. Size reducing unit43 shear the material (e.g., by grinding the material) to causecomparatively large-sized debris to be reduced to a smaller size beforepassing further into drain 42 and/or through downstream dischargepiping. Size reducing unit 43 may be implemented using a garbagedisposal or other similarly configured device capable of receiving astream containing liquid with entrained solid material. When used, sizereducing unit 43 may receive material entering drain 42 either upstreamor downstream of the initial drain opening.

In some examples, docking station 14 may include a housing that definesan enclosed cavity or receiving space into which floor cleaning machine12 enters. For example, docking station 14 can have an opening on oneside, which may or may not be closed by a movable door, that providesaccess to an enclosure into which floor cleaning machine 12 can enterfor docking. In other examples, docking station 14 may not define anenclosed receiving space but instead be partially or fully open to theambient environment.

Independent of the layout or housing configuration of docking station14, the docking station may include at least one flow orifice 44arranged to deliver a device cleaning fluid to floor cleaning machine12. For example, flow orifice 44 may be arranged to deliver a cleaningfluid to an underside of floor cleaning machine 12, which may be anentirety of the underside of the floor cleaning machine or a subsectionthereof. In some examples, flow orifice 44 may be arranged to deliver acleaning fluid to at least the one or more (e.g., all) of the cleaningheads 18 of floor cleaning machine 12. Since cleaning head 18 of floorcleaning machine 12 is the feature that interfaces with the floorsurface to be cleaned, cleaning at least this feature of the machine maybe useful to help ensure effective continued cleaning operation.

In some examples, docking station 14 may have a single orifice throughwhich cleaning fluid is delivered to clean floor cleaning machine 12. Inother examples, docking station 14 may have a plurality of orifices(e.g., two, three, four, five, six, or more) through which cleaningfluid is delivered to clean floor sweeping machine. When configured withmultiple orifices, docking station 14 may have one or more manifoldseach defining a plurality of orifices 44 through which cleaning fluid isdelivered to clean floor cleaning machine 12 (e.g., an underside of thefloor cleaning machine). The one or more manifolds may be arrangedrelative to docking station 14 such that, when floor cleaning machine 12is docked on the docking station, the orifices are appropriatelypositioned relative to the floor cleaning machine to deliver cleaningfluid to desired locations.

FIG. 2 is a top view of an example manifold 50 that may be used todeliver device cleaning fluid to an underside of floor cleaning machine12, when the machine is docked with docking station 14. In this example,manifold 50 has a main conduit 52 in fluid communication with aplurality of secondary conduits 54A-54C. A plurality of flushingorifices 44 are defined across manifold 50, each of which can deliverdevice cleaning fluid to floor cleaning machine 12 when positionedrelative to manifold 50.

Each feature described as an orifice may be an opening through whichliquid is delivered to clean floor cleaning machine 12. One or more(e.g., optionally all) of the flushing orifices may include a nozzle orturbulent flow system, which may generate a spray pattern and/orturbulent fluid stream directable against floor cleaning machine 12.Some or all of flushing orifices 44 may be fixedly positioned relativeto platform 40 and floor cleaning machine 12 when docked. Additionallyor alternatively, some or all of flushing orifices 44 may be configuredto move relative floor cleaning machine 12, such as relative tounderside 30 of the floor cleaning machine. For example, one or moreorifices 44 may be on a movable gantry or other mobile component,allowing the orifice and liquid delivered therethrough to move relativeto a remainder of docking station 14 and floor cleaning machine 12, whendocked.

While the foregoing discussion of docking station 14 has focused on thedocking station having one or more flushing orifices to deliver acleaning fluid to an underside of floor cleaning machine 12, the dockingstation may be configured to clean exterior housing 32 of the floorcleaning machine 12 in addition to or in lieu of cleaning underside 30.For example, docking station 14 may include at least one externalsurface flushing orifice 60 positioned to clean some or all of externalhousing 32 of floor cleaning machine 12 (e.g., a top surface and/orsidewall surfaces of the machine).

To supply liquid for cleaning floor cleaning machine 12, docking station14 may include a reservoir 62 that stores device cleaning fluid suppliedto orifices 44 and/or 60. Device cleaning fluid may be stored inreservoir 62 in dilute, ready-to-use form, or may be stored inconcentrated form that is diluted by docking station 14 prior to orconcurrent with use. For example, device cleaning fluid may be stored inreservoir 62 in a concentrated liquid form or as a solid that isdissolved by a diluent. A fluid conduit 64 can directly or indirectlyconvey the device cleaning fluid from reservoir 62 to the one or moreflushing orifices. Docking station 14 may be connected to a liquidsupply network, in particular a water supply network, to receive waterfor performing various functions described of the docking stationherein, such as diluting a concentrated device cleaning fluid.

Any type of cleaning liquid may be supplied to the flushing orifices 44,60 of docking station 14 to clean floor cleaning machine 12. The liquidused to clean docking station 14 is generally referred to a devicecleaning fluid in the present disclosure. In some examples, waterwithout additional added chemicals may be used as a device cleaningfluid to flush floor cleaning machine 12. Additionally or alternatively,various chemical agents may be used to increase the effectiveness of theflushing and cleaning performed on by docking station. The cleaningagents used may be selected based on the types of soils expected to beencountered on floor cleaning machine 12 within the target operatingenvironment. In some examples, the device cleaning fluid includes one ormore surfactants to help remove soil from floor cleaning machine 12.

In one example, the device cleaning fluid used to clean floor cleaningmachine 12 is or includes a degreasing composition. A degreasingcomposition may be, e.g., one specifically formulated remove fats andoils. The degreaser may include an alkali or alkaline earth metalhydroxide, for example, sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or caustic, e.g., inaddition to various surfactants, solvents, and other additives. Cleaningfloor cleaning machine 12 with a degreasing composition may be useful toremove residual fat and oil deposits from the machine, such as thosethat may be picked up by the cleaning machine when cleaning full andquick service restaurants (e.g., back of the house), as well in otheroperating environments.

In addition to being configured to clean floor cleaning machine 12,docking station 14 may interface with the machine to service the machinefor subsequent operation. For example, docking station 14 may include asupply conduit 66A configured to fluidly connect with a correspondingconnection 66B on floor cleaning machine 12, when the floor cleaningmachine is docked to the docking station. Cleaning fluid can be suppliedfrom docking station 14 to floor cleaning machine 12 via supply conduit66A to refill the cleaning fluid reservoir 20 on the machine with acleaning fluid. Floor cleaning machine 12 can subsequently dispense thecleaning fluid filled from reservoir 20 onto a floor surface beingcleaned.

Docking station 14 can supply any desired type of cleaning fluid. Insome examples, water without additional added chemicals may be used asthe cleaning fluid supplied to floor cleaning machine 12. The water mayor may not be electrically activated. Additionally or alternatively,various chemical agents may be used to increase the cleaningeffectiveness of the cleaning fluid delivered by floor cleaning machine12. The cleaning agents used may be selected based on the types of soilsexpected to be encountered on floor surface being cleaned by floorcleaning machine 12. In some examples, the cleaning fluid comprises asurfactant.

To supply cleaning fluid to floor cleaning machine 12, docking station14 may include a cleaning fluid supply reservoir 68 that stores cleaningfluid supplied to the cleaning machine via fluid conduit 66A. Fluid maybe stored in reservoir 68 in dilute, ready-to-use form, or may be storedin concentrated form that is diluted by docking station 14 prior to orconcurrent with use. For example, cleaning fluid may be stored inreservoir 68 in a concentrated liquid form or as a solid that isdissolved by a diluent. Docking station 14 may be connected to a watersupply network 69 to receive water for diluting the concentratedcleaning fluid.

Depending on the application, the cleaning fluid supplied to floorcleaning machine 12 for subsequently dispensing on a floor surface to becleaned may be the same as or different than the device cleaning fluidused to clean the floor cleaning machine itself. When the same cleaningfluid is both utilized by floor cleaning machine 12 to help clean afloor surface and applied to clean the floor cleaning machine, dockingstation 14 may include a single reservoir containing the cleaning fluid(or concentrate thereof) to refill the machine upon docking and tosupply to orifices 44, 60. In other example, the cleaning fluid suppliedto floor cleaning machine 12 and subsequently dispensed on a floorsurface being cleaned may be different than the device cleaning fluidused to clean the floor cleaning machine itself.

Docking station 14 may also interface with floor cleaning machine 12 toremove waste (e.g., solid waste, liquid waste) from the machine upondocking. For example, docking station 14 may include a discharge conduit70A configured to fluidly connect with a corresponding connection 70B onfloor cleaning machine 12, when the floor cleaning machine is docked tothe docking station. Waste fluid can be withdrawn from reservoir 24 onfloor cleaning machine 12 via discharge conduit 70A to partially orfully evacuate the waste fluid reservoir of waste fluid. A pumpassociated with either floor cleaning machine 12 or docking station 14may be activated to provide a motive force to withdraw the waste fluidfrom waste fluid reservoir 24 and deliver the waste fluid to dockingstation 14. In some examples, the waste fluid received by dockingstation 14 is discharged to an associated drain for disposal.

In some examples, docking station 14 may flush waste fluid reservoir 24,fluid recovery system 26, and/or other fluid conduits or featuresassociated with the waste fluid system of floor cleaning machine 12.Docking station 14 may introduce a flushing liquid (e.g., water,cleaning fluid, device cleaning fluid) into a fluid conduit associatedwith the waste fluid system to flush some or all of the system with theflushing liquid (e.g., in addition to or in lieu of evacuating the wastefluid system of waste fluid collected during floor cleaning operation).

Additionally or alternatively, docking station 14 may be configured torecharge one or more batteries carried by floor cleaning machine 12. Forexample, docking station 14 may be connected to an electrical supplynetwork and configured to electrically connect with floor cleaningmachine 12, when the floor cleaning machine is docked to the dockingstation. For example, a wired and/or wireless connection may beestablished between floor cleaning supplied from docking station 14 mayrecharge one or more batteries carried by floor cleaning machine.

In some examples, floor cleaning system 10 includes a detection deviceby which docking of floor cleaning machine 12 to docking station 14 isdeterminable. After a positive determination that floor cleaning machine12 has docked to docking station 14, various actions may be performed onthe machine. For example, different valves may be actuated and/orpump(s) activated to deliver device cleaning liquid to clean floorcleaning machine 12, to refill cleaning fluid reservoir 20, and/or emptywaste fluid reservoir 24. Power may also be supplied from dockingstation 14 to recharge one or more batteries carried by floor cleaningmachine 12. The detection device may be implemented using an electricaland/or mechanical detection device.

A docking station according to the disclosure may enhance the efficiencyand cleaning effectiveness of a floor cleaning machine associated withthe docking station. The docking station can service the floor cleaningmachine for repeated cleaning of one or more target floor surfaces,including performing cleaning on the floor cleaning machine itself. Thedocking station can clean the floor cleaning machine each time the floorcleaning machine is docked at the docking station. Alternatively, thedocking station may clean the floor cleaning machine some but not all ofthe times the floor cleaning machine is docked at the docking station.

While the foregoing discussion of system 10 has focused on aconfiguration of floor cleaning machine 12 and docking station 14 wherethe docking station includes at least one flushing orifice 44 arrangedto deliver a device cleaning fluid to at least the cleaning head of thefloor cleaning machine, other configurations are possible according tothe disclosure. For example, in addition to or in lieu of configuringdocking station 14 with flushing orifice 44, floor cleaning machine 12may be designed with one or more flushing orifices 44. The one or moreflushing orifices 44 can be used to flush at least a portion of floorcleaning machine 12 (e.g., a least a portion of underside 30 of themachine, at least cleaning head 18 of machine).

FIG. 3 is an illustration of another example configuration of floorcleaning system 10 that includes a floor cleaning machine 12 and adocking station 14. Like reference numerals in FIG. 3 refer to likecomponents discussed above with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2 . In thisexample, floor cleaning machine 12 itself includes the one or moreorifices 44 arranged to deliver a device cleaning fluid to clean atleast a portion of floor cleaning machine, such as an underside of themachine and/or cleaning head 18. In FIG. 1 , docking station 14 does notitself have a flushing orifice 44 for cleaning an underside of floorcleaning machine 12 although, in other examples, may also have one ormore flushing orifices in addition to the one or more carried by floorcleaning machine 12.

In operation, floor cleaning machine 12 can dock at docking station 14.Docking station 14 may include a conduit 64A configured to fluidlyconnect with a corresponding connection 64B on floor cleaning machine12. Device cleaning fluid can be supplied from docking station 14 tofloor cleaning machine 12 via conduit 64A and conveyed out of the one ormore orifices 44 for cleaning floor cleaning machine 12. A pumpassociated with floor cleaning machine and/or docking station 14 maypressurize the device cleaning fluid for discharge the device cleaningfluid under pressure out the one or more orifices and against the floorcleaning machine.

In another example, floor cleaning machine 12 may be cleaned with thecleaning fluid used by the floor cleaning machine to clean a floorsurface in addition to or in lieu of being cleaned with a differentdevice cleaning fluid. In these examples, cleaning fluid reservoir 20 offloor cleaning machine 12 and/or cleaning fluid supply reservoir 68 ofdocking station 14 may be placed in fluid communication with orifice 44(e.g., via manifold 50 in FIG. 2 ). Cleaning fluid can then be suppliedto the one or more orifices 44 to cleaning floor cleaning machine 12,e.g., from the onboard reservoir 20 of cleaning fluid with or withoutthe reservoir being simultaneously refilled via cleaning fluid supplyreservoir 68. As another example, cleaning fluid supply reservoir 68 ofdocking station 14 may simultaneously or sequentially supply cleaningfluid to both cleaning fluid reservoir 20 and orifice 44.

When floor cleaning machine 12 is configured with onboard orifice(s) 44,such as one or more spray nozzles or turbulent flow devices, theorifices can be arranged to direct flow in any desired direction orcombinations of directions. The orifices may be arranged to spray upwardagainst at least a portion of underside 30 of floor cleaning machine 12,downward, and/or sideways. In some examples, the one or more orificesmay be retractable in floor cleaning machine 12. For example, the one ormore orifices 44 may define spray nozzles that can retract up into aninterior of floor cleaning machine 12 when not in use. When needed toclean floor cleaning machine 12, the nozzles may advance down out oftheir storage location. This configuration can move the orifices out ofthe free space under floor cleaning machine 12 when the orifices are notin use, e.g., allowing the floor cleaning machine to perform floorcleaning without having the orifices hinder operation or be subject tocontact damage.

Various examples have been described. These and other examples arewithin the scope of the following claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A floor cleaning system comprising: a floorcleaning machine comprising: at least one drive wheel operable to drivethe floor cleaning machine across a floor surface to be cleaned; acleaning head being configured to clean the floor surface as the floorcleaning machine is driven across the floor surface by the at least onedrive wheel, the cleaning head being provided on an underside of thefloor cleaning machine; a cleaning fluid reservoir; a waste fluidreservoir; and an external housing covering components of the floorcleaning machine, the external housing comprising a top surface and asidewall surface, the sidewall surface extending between the undersideof the floor cleaning machine and the top surface of the externalhousing; a docking station to which the floor cleaning machine isconfigured to dock, the docking station comprising: a platformcomprising a drain, the platform being arranged to receive the floorcleaning machine in a position in which at least a portion of anunderside of the floor cleaning machine is positioned over the platform;at least one flushing orifice arranged to deliver a device cleaningfluid to at least the cleaning head of the floor cleaning machine; andat least one external surface flushing orifice positioned to deliver thedevice cleaning fluid to the external housing of the floor cleaningmachine.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the floor cleaning machine isan autonomous floor cleaning machine operable without human control. 3.The system of claim 1, wherein the docking station comprises: areservoir configured to store the device cleaning fluid or aconcentrated form thereof; and a device cleaning fluid conduitconfigured to directly or indirectly convey the device cleaning fluidfrom the reservoir to the at least one flushing orifice.
 4. The systemof claim 1, wherein the at least one flushing orifice comprises amanifold defining a plurality of flushing orifices.
 5. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one flushing orifice is fixedly positionedrelative to the platform.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at leastone flushing orifice is configured to move relative to the underside ofthe floor cleaning machine.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein thedocking station further comprises: at least one supply conduitconfigured to fluidly connect with the cleaning fluid reservoir on thefloor cleaning machine, when the floor cleaning machine is docked to thedocking station, to refill the cleaning fluid reservoir with a cleaningfluid; and at least one discharge conduit configured to fluidly connectwith the waste fluid reservoir on the floor cleaning machine, when thefloor cleaning machine is docked to the docking station, to evacuate thewaste fluid reservoir of a waste fluid.
 8. The system of claim 1,wherein the docking station further comprises an electrical supplyconfigured to electrically connect with the floor cleaning machine, whenthe floor cleaning machine is docked to the docking station, to rechargea battery carried by the floor cleaning machine.
 9. The system of claim1, wherein the docking station further comprises a size reducing unitpositioned to receive material entering the drain of the platform andshear the material to reduce a size of the material.